ABILENE CHRISTIAN 5, INCARNATE WORD 4
Looking for their first trip to the national championships in eight years Incarnate Word's men's tennis team jumped on a real toughie in the regional finals. The nation's number seven team, Abilene Christian, had to go to the very end before subduing the Cardinals by a 5-4 count.
UIW ended the year at 15-5, just short of the best mark in Incarnate Word history. Back in 1993 UIW was 15-4 for the best record.
In Abilene, playing on ACU's home court, Incarnate Word jumped on top early winning doubles two and three for a 2-1 lead. The singles did not go the Cardinals' way.
Seniors Francisco Segura and Max Moreau won their matches at numbers one and two before the Abilene Christian parade began. The Wildcats needed wins in the remaining four matches and that is what they got with a sweep of three through six.
This was Incarnate Word's seventh trip to the regional tournament in its 11 years of NCAA play.
Singles
1. Francisco Segura, UIW, def. Eldad Campbell, ACU, 6-4, 7-5
2. Maxime Moreau, UIW, def. John Strahl, ACU, 6-3, 6-2
3. Alfredo Desiati, ACU, def. Jose Arizpe, UIW, 6-3, 6-2
4. Luke Hawk, ACU, def. Alex Wieland, UIW, 6-4, 5-7, 7-5
5. Bryan Joiner, ACU, def. Carlos Olvera, UIW, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2
6. Brett Proctor, ACU, def. David Ballenger, UIW, 6-4, 7-6
Doubles
1. Luke Hawk-Bryan Joiner, ACU, def. Francisco Segura-Jose Arizpe, UIW, 8-6
2. Maxime Moreau-Alex Wieland, UIW, def. Eldad Campbell-John Strahl, ACU, 9-7
3. Aidan DeLeon-Carlos Olvera, UIW, def. Brett Proctor-Alfredo Desiati, ACU, 8-6